I suppose I should explain my little project. I am taking a class online that requires daily shooting, so I decided to turn it into a personal project and continue after the class ends. I'm calling it "this is not a project 365" because I know myself, and I will inevitably build up too much pressure and resistance in my head and just not do it at all. So, I'm taking it day by day, week by week. I'm shooting much more than one image a day, typically, and sometimes it's hard to pick just one.

This month, I was responsible for picking the theme for our Project 10 challenge. (See October's theme and a brief description of the project here.) I tossed around ideas that were more obviously linked to the month of November: home, traditions, food, etc. Then one afternoon, I realized it had been a couple of weeks since I picked up my camera around my boys and I had a huge desire to create and play. I decided to test my free lensing skills, which I had only previously practiced on stationary objects. This may not have been the best idea to practice with water around and my lens away from the camera body, but my boys know much better than to try to direct water at me with my camera out.

After taking and uploading these images, I realized I had my theme: soft. The soft focus produced by free lensing feels nostalgic and lovely. I think this theme could be taken in so many directions--from soft & cozy blankets to soft light, soft hearts to soft snow. It really is so versatile and I can't wait to see how you interpret it. I may have to re-interpret it myself throughout the month!

On another note, yes, we were playing in water in our underwear in October. Welcome to the desert's third warmest October in recent history.

In my Facebook group, we started a monthly challenge called Project 10. We choose a theme each month, and then plan how we want to represent that theme and pick our top 10 favorites.

Growing up in the desert meant that I didn't get to experience the quintessential "fall" portrayed in the movies. Then I moved to Flagstaff to go to college and my experience with fall changed drastically. I'm back living in the desert, but thankfully we are still able to visit Flagstaff often. We finally took the boys up the mountain early in October to experience the breathtaking foliage. We even took them to one of the first spots on the mountain that TJ took me when we were dating. It was so fun to experience the beautiful aspen with them and see them marvel at the golden leaves falling in the breeze.

Whenever I think about women and bringing children into this world, I think of the famous words by Carter Crocker (I thought it was A.A. Milne, but apparently it's been mis-attributed, but I digress); "Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

I remember my own experiences giving birth to my two beautiful boys. I think of the intense pressure and pain of the contractions, of the heavy physical and emotional exhaustion. There comes a point, just before it's over, where you feel like you just. can't. anymore.

And then, you dig deep. And you find that you really are strong and brave and you will do this because you must.

Then in a moment that is a rush and quiet all at once, there's a baby in front of you.

I feel more than honored that I was able to document this sacred, special experience for Kat and Danny. They made such a beautiful team and I loved all of the time they were able to spend alone with their beautiful baby girl after her birth. You can't witness something like this and not believe in goodness and love, and God.